Held annually on the last Friday in April, Give BIG for the Oceans is a way for the REEF community to come together and celebrate our collective impact on ocean conservation. Our second annual Give BIG for the Oceans event is coming up on April 29. Thanks to the Pelton Charitable Foundation and an anonymous supporter, all donations made during Give BIG for the Oceans 2022 will be MATCHED up to $15,000! Be sure to mark April 29 on your calendar because you don't want to miss this amazing match opportunity.
REEF members are the heart of our grassroots marine conservation programs. A diverse community of divers, snorkelers, and ocean enthusiasts support our mission to conserve marine environments worldwide.
Introducing our April Fish of the Month, the Chalk Bass (Serranus torturgarum)!
Survey Regions: The Chalk Bass is found in the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) survey region. Click here to see the REEF database report for this species.
Size: They grow to about 3-4 inches.
The Conservation Challenge is a fun way to get involved in marine conservation and earn stickers for completing different challenges. This month, we're highlighting the Give BIG for the Oceans challenge. To complete this challenge and earn the sticker, mark your calendar and plan to donate to support REEF during our annual Give BIG for the Oceans celebration on April 29. The best part? Contributions made during Give BIG for the Oceans are matched! Donations of any amount qualify to receive this sticker. Keep an eye on your inbox for Give BIG reminders throughout the month of April.
REEF's online programs are free and open to everyone! Here's what is coming up in the next several weeks:
Join the South Carolina Aquarium for their inaugural JuLionfish Derby + Festival, a month-long culling competition for divers followed by an all-inclusive, 21+ festival at the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston, SC! Proceeds benefit South Carolina Aquarium Reef Research, a program aimed at generating awareness and supporting fieldwork opportunities to sustain a balanced ocean. JuLionfish is a REEF-sanctioned event.
Details and Registration: https://scaquarium.org/JuLionfish.
Attention REEF surveyors: keep an eye out for the non-native Regal Demoiselle while surveying in the Tropical Western Atlantic (TWA) region. The Regal Demoiselle, Neopomacentrus cyanomos, is a damselfish native to a wide area of the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea. First reported as an exotic species in the Gulf of Mexico in 2016, recent reports show that the Regal Demoiselle has expanded its non-native range to southeast Florida.
Let's take a bite out of invasive lionfish! Please save the date and plan to join us for our 2022 Lionfish Derby Series in the Florida Keys:
Earth Day Lionfish Derby: April 22-24 at Sharkey’s Sharkbite Grill in Key Largo
This event is our 9th annual "Keys locals" derby; fishing is allowed in Monroe County waters only. Derby team registration is now open - register your team today! Click here for more info and registration.
You’re invited to join in the third annual REEF Fish Out of Water Virtual 5K on June 6-12, 2022. You can get moving any way you like - run, walk, hike, bike, swim, or even paddle! You can complete the 5K (3.1 miles) in one day or throughout the week. It's a great way to celebrate World Oceans Day and make a difference for yourself, others, and the marine environment.